Category: Volunteering

Three cheers for young volunteers

, by Paul Barclay
Last week we were back at the Scottish Parliament for an event hosted by the Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf. It was in honour of Police Scotland’s Youth Volunteers, an organisation that has an active presence in Cumbernauld. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was there to hear the testimonies of the young people, their adult instructors and our very own Tracy Lambert,…

Summer Days

, by Paul Barclay
After the warm weather in early summer you might be forgiven for thinking autumn had arrived early recently. It’s been a topsy-turvy year weather wise and there’s no doubt that some parts of nature are as confused as I am. Early summer plants like cowslips are coming back into flower over recent weeks and I’m still seeing breeding behaviour going…

Wasps… what are they good for?

, by Paul Barclay
It’s that time of year again. You might be enjoying a picnic, eating your lunch in the town centre, or relaxing with a cup of tea in the garden. Before long you’ll catch sight of the dreaded black and yellow stripes of a wasp coming to see what you’re up to. A question we’re often asked at this time of…

The Big Butterfly Count

, by Paul Barclay
I’ve got a simple rule in my daily life. When Sir David Attenborough tells me to do something I do it! You may have seen the great man on various media channels over the last few weeks promoting something called the Big Butterfly Count, a national scheme to try and record the numbers of butterflies that are living alongside us.…

Riggfest 2018

, by Paul Barclay
Cumbernauld Living Landscape was represented at Riggfest last week, a youth outdoor learning festival at Palacerigg. We had a great time with the young people, playing a variety of simple team building games and building woodland shelters. The kids were full of energy and enthusiasm – and the sun was shining which always helps! I was impressed with how well…

Hope for the future

, by Paul Barclay
It seems to be all doom and gloom in the conservation world just now. Recently the news was full of tales of an ‘ecological Armageddon’ after a study found that flying insect numbers are down 76% over the last 25 years. Another study found grassland butterflies are down by 50% over the past two decades. Butterflies are a key indicator…

Foxes and Cubs

, by Paul Barclay
Spring has now well and truly sprung and over at Cumbernauld Living Landscape we are savouring every moment of this blissful time of year. Our Wild Ways Well group has been accomplishing the ‘Take Notice’ part of the 5 Ways To Wellbeing by immersing themselves in the changing cycles of nature. Being mindful of the changes around us is a…

Nature Ninjas

, by Paul Barclay
The Nature Ninjas will be making an appearance at St Maurice’s Pond this coming Sunday 6th May. These intrepid volunteers can be found on the first Sunday of every month in reserves, and parks all over the town giving up their time, energy and skills for nature. Despite what Hollywood might tell you a Ninja comes in all shapes and…

Wild Ways Well the Movie?

, by Paul Barclay
Last week our group had a very different experience. Untypically, the Tuesday group started with a wee drive up to Palacerigg for a film training led by two researchers from the James Hutton Institute in Aberdeen. Leaving behind the animals in the cold spring we headed towards the very inspiring long houses which mostly look like upside down Viking ship’s…

A Gift to the Future

, by Paul Barclay
Here in the Cumbernauld Living Landscape Office we have a framed quote hanging on the wall, given to us by one of our volunteers, it reads “Societies grow great when old men plant trees under whose shade they will never sit”. It was a lovely gift and it’s something I reflect upon often when I consider the work we do.…

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